Na'Vi move past mTw

Natus Vincere have defeated Mortal Teamwork, two maps to one, and will now face Frag eXecutors in the final of the Intel Extreme Masters World Final.

Na’Vi started de_train taking the pistol quite easily and the following save rounds.  The first real test would come in the first gun round which Na’Vi was also able to claim. mTw were able to take control of the mid game and the money system and put Na’Vi on save a few times. Na’Vi regained their composure and both teams ended the half exchanging blow for blow. The half ended with Na’Vi taking a slender lead of 9-6 on the more favoured counter-terrorist side.

Na’Vi was also able to take the pistol with a clever inside plant.  Defending against the mTw save, Na’Vi played a very calm and controlling pair of rounds trying to give up as little money as they could.  mTw picked up the all important first gun round thanks to some impressive AWP action by Martin “trace” Heldt.  Much like the first half, mTw were able to steady and take a useful 4-3 lead after seven rounds.  Ioann “Edward” Sukhariev was able to win two unlikely rounds to give Na’Vi the momentum they needed, pushing ahead to take the first map 16-12.

de_inferno would prove to be the make or break map for mTw.  Starting off as counter-terrorists they were able to pick up the pistol round and the next couple to go out to a 3-0 lead. Na’Vi hit back taking the first gun round and piled on a few more rounds.  At the eighth round is was 4-4. mTw then steam rolled ahead and picked up six of the last seven rounds to take the half 10-5.

mTw continued where they left off and quickly took the pistol round again, mTw looked to have the match in the bag at 15-5, however Na’Vi showed their true character and wouldn’t let it go. Na’Vi nearly gave mTw a real scare but fell short in the dying few rounds, mTw taking the map 16-11.

Na’Vi began the third and final map as terrorists on de_tuscan. As we have seen from previous maps, whoever takes the pistol often ends up taking the half. This would prove to the case as Na’Vi took the pistol and shot straight out to an early 8-0 lead.  In the 9th round mTw finally got on the board  and were able to claw back to 8-2. Na’Vi would have none of this and won the next crucial round resetting mTw’s money bonus and pushing out to a 12-3 lead at the half.

With all eyes on the pistol, it would be Na’Vi who took the honours and looked like they would cruise through to the Grand-final, however mTw would have something to say about it, and quickly took the eco and the next force buy to really put some pressure on the Ukrainians’ who promptly called a timeout.  The next three rounds all produced 1v1’s and mTw through the help of the money system pulled ahead in the half 7-2, making the score 14-10 to Na’Vi. Na’Vi now on a gun round knew this would probably be one of their last chances, took the round and jumped to a 15-10 lead.

Just when the map looked over and Na’Vi would run away it, mTw hit back and really put pressure on Na’Vi’s money with only four rounds to go and the scores at 15-11. With Na’Vi needing just one of the remaining rounds, they finally broke through and took the match 16-12.

IEM5 World ChampionshipBest of 0 mTwMatchpage 1 2 4th March 2011 Natus Vincere 1Best of 3 2